Timmy Murphy reaches 1,000-winner milestone

Timmy Murphy declared himself immensely proud that he had joined the elite band of jump jockeys to have ridden 1,000 winners. "When I first came into racing, my ambition was to win the Grand National and to be champion jockey. But this is something special. I feel honoured," he said on Thursday night.

Three cheers: Timmy Murphy has joined an elite band of jump jockeys to have ridden 1,000 winnersPhoto: REUTERS

By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath)

7:54PM GMT 21 Jan 2010

Murphy gained the two winners he needed for a four-figure British total at Taunton on Thursday, aboard the promising novice hurdler Ghizao and the well-backed Wizard of Edge in the staying handicap chase.

Life has changed dramatically for the Irish jockey, who several years ago found himself in Wormwood Scrubs following a drunken episode on a flight to Japan. To his great credit, Murphy reformed, came back to take up a good job as retained jockey to owner David Johnson and to ride a Grand National winner for him.

To have reached a milestone that only truly outstanding jockeys achieve, this must have been one of his proudest moments in racing. Having achieved one of his early ambitions, winning the National on Comply Or Die at Aintree, he concedes he is unlikely to pull off the second, taking the jockeys’ crown from Tony McCoy.

“But I have no plans to retire,” he told me. “While I’m riding horses such as Diamond Harry, Well Chief and Starluck, I’ll keep going,” he pointed out.

It is timely that mention of the first two horses should come this week, as Murphy misses the mount on Diamond Harry at Haydock Park because he is required to partner Well Chief for owner Johnson in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

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Barry Geraghty takes over aboard Diamond Harry for the gelding’s chasing debut, but Murphy expects to be back in the saddle the next time that budding star races.”I’d hope so,” he said. “We’ve been together a long time now, and a lot of work has gone into him so far.”

Gary Moore said it was no certainty that Fix The Rib would take his chance in the Victor Chandler. His worry is soft, testing ground, he explained last night. “Whether he runs depends really on which weather forecast you believe.

“I’d like to run him because I’m keen to put that last run behind him (fell at Kempton when beaten). His blood’s good, he looks well and he schooled well. The physio is happy with him. But it’s just the weather and the ground that worry me,” he said.